The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-14
THE PRINCE IMPERIAL's SON.
Mias Watkyns's Strange Story Found To b.
True, Despite All Contradictions.

Mias Watkyns's Strange Story Found To Be
True, Despite All Contradictions.
New YORK, Feb 13.-The Heralds Paris
cable says: "The Prince Imperials idyl, in spite
of all contradictions, is true. The illegitimate
heir is now living in the care of an English lady
near Neuilly. She is bringing the little follow
up qusetly, to take an humble position in life.
He will be taught trade He is seven years
old, very bright and has Napoieonic features.
"a Miss Charlotte Watkyns, whose parents
kept second hand clothing shop in Air street
mot egent street), London, and generally
knowyas Lottie Watkyns. appeared upon the
Londoh stage without success and then took to
skatists at the rinks during the rink craze. She
fine.h Escame professional skater. The
Princel met her one day in the train, where the
acquain tanceship began He told her he was q
French gentleman, studying English, and he
gave his name as Mr.. Lewis or Louis The
Prince and she made rendezvous at a small
hotel in Jermyn street, not at the hair dress
ers and perfumers, as Was enormously
stated. Miss Watkyns was very pretty, dark
girl, with exceptionally long, black hair velvety
eyes and a tall, slender figure. She was we'll
known at a dramatic professorsi in Jcrmyn street
whore che was very great favcrIte with lit
terateurs. artists and journalists. She was not a
model of chastity, for she had one child by a
very distinguished father before she met the
Prince, and has had third one since her i'm
perial lovers death.
"Miss Watkyns made the discovery who Mr.
Lewis really was at the Duke of Norfolk's we'd
ding, IN Brompton oratory, when Lord Beacons-
field stood amiably chatting with him. Miss
Watkyns took counsel and made up her mind
that the only way to keep her lover to herself
was to feign ignorance as to his personality
This she managed with the wit of a consummate
actress. The Prince was certainly head over
heels in love with her, and among his letters to
her from Brickley, in 1873, is one in which he
wrote:
'''If ever get to be great man will make
you great little woman
Miss Watkyns is a proud kind of girl, and
scorns the idea of seeking assistance. She never
went to Camden House, and the Empress never
knew anything whatever about the escapade un-
til lately Miss Watkyns went to Woolwich
when the body of the dead Prince returned from
Zululand. hoping to see her lovers features
! once again. but no ladies were admitted to the
Identification, and she returned to London.
| She went to the requeiem mass in St. Mary's
/ Church, Chiselhurst. The then Roman Catho-
! lie Bishop of Southwark, who knew her story,
spoke to her most kindly after She touching cere-
| mony, and praised her for her womanly reti-
| cence. 1t was through the influence of the
| Bishop of Southwark that Miss Watkyns was
| sent out to Australia with letter of introdcc-
| ton to the Roman Catholic Bishop in Melbourne,
who placed her in a family governess That
| kind of life, however, was totally uusuted to
| Miss Watkyns's tastes and she is now back
| again IN London, her only wish being that the
| child'-and by that she the offspring OF
! the Prince-shall be brough: up in his fathers
country, and that the secret of his birth shall be
| Kept az long as possible from the youngster,
| who is strong, precocious ard noisy